Sunday Bathroom Bleach Down

Possibly the strangest title yet. It is about a little ritual that I have. Every Sunday the bathrooms get cleaned and bleached completely. To most who know me, this isn't some sort of earth-shattering revalation. I like things clean, picked up and organized. It's probably pretty maddening to the juniors of the house, but someday they will get it.

I don't believe in the traditional sense of God, so this isn't some cleanness is next to Godliness crap. Lacking further is a Messiah Complex. It is a matter of belief for me though. Cleanliness feels less stressful and encumbering to me than some mess that grimily awaits my begrudging return. It means not having to worry about where something is. Whatever I am looking for is exactly where it is supposed to be. There is also the issue of instant gratification, something immediate that can be marked on the daily list of accomplishments. We all need to feel like we are worthwhile and contributing. For me, it heightens my personal sense of value.

Now for the real reason I embark on this journey of wading into the daily drones of cleaning and housework - control. Yep, I am a human and I like to control. I accept and embrace the theory that we are born into chaos and that is our natural state. That being said, I am utterly defiant by nature, so I want to control somewhere in my life. I do not want to control people, they have free will for a reason. It is so sad and disheartening when someones free will has been broken. They need to travel their own path, not me barking orders at every turn. Not only do I not want to control people, I know I cannot. What is the sense in setting yourself up for failure?

In a small sense, cleaning fulfills a need for me. I need to feel successful. The more that is upset in my life, the more I will delve deep into cleaning. I can scrub something until it is sparkling and perfect. It gives me something to concentrate on when I don't want to think about what else is going on in my life. So the next time I am really excited about everything I got done on my list, instead of thinking I am bragging or beating yourself up about what you didn't do...wonder or ask what is going on. By the way, the toilets look amazing tonight!